Turret mechanism for automatic lathes.



vNo. 756,467. PATENTED APR. 5, 1904. J. P. BROPHY TURRET MECHANISM FORAUTOMATIC LATHES. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 20, 1902.

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No. 756,467. 'PATENTED'APR. 5, 1904.

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TURRET MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC LATHBS.

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Patented April 5, 1904.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN P. BROPHY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND' MACHINESCREW COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TURRET MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC LATHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 756,467, dated April 5,1904:.

Application filed August 20, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN P. BROPHY, a citi- Zen of the United States,and a resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Turret Mechanism for AutomaticLathes, of which the following is a specification, the principle of theinvention being herein explained and the best mode in which I havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from otherinventions.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic lathes, andparticularly to improvements in the turret mechanism thereof.

The object of said invention is to provide means whereby the sphere ofoperation of the turret and through it the sphere of operation of thetools in the turret may be changed to conform with requirements ofvarying character, and, further, to permit of the automatic interruptionof the reciprocating movement of the turret without involving theinterruption of the operation of the lathes driving mechanism.

Said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described, andparticularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description'set forth in detailcertain. mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principleof .the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I represents a front elevational view,partly in section and broken away, of the turret end of automatic latheof the general type of that shown in Patent No. 554,814, issued to JamesB. Clyne and embodying my invention. Fig. II represents an end view ofsuch part of said lathe viewed in the direction indicated by the arrowin Fig. I. I Fig. III represents a vertical transverse section of thelathe, taken upon the plane indicated by the line 3 3, Fig. I, the scaleupon which such section is drawn being somewhat reduced from that onwhich Fig. I is drawn. Fig. IV represents a rear elevation of such lathepart drawn on the scale of Serial No. 120,346. (No model.)

Fig. III. Fig. V represents, on an enlarged scale, a verticalcross-section of a cam-disk used in connection with my invention. Fig.VI represents an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the machine,such section being take'nI upon the plane indicated by line 6 6, Fig.

In order that the nature and object of my invention may be more fullyunderstood, I shall first describe the general construction of the latheto which myinvention is applied.

The lathe is divided into two main partsthe turret-operating partand theworkfeeding and rotating part. The work feeding and rotating part beingunaffected by my invention, further reference thereto will hereinafterbe omitted. Besides these two parts there are one or moreautomatically-operated cross-slides which are used for carrying andoperating cutting ofi and forming tools, as required. These latter partsbeing also unrelated to my invention will also be omitted from thefollowing description. The turret carries a variety of tools which areadapted to perform operations progressively lengthwise of the work, suchas threading, boring, milling, and finishing.

The aim sought for in automatic lathes is to provide a structure such aswill permit the greatest number of different forms of work to beproduced consistent with economy of construction. This means that themachine should be able to carry and operate as many tools of differentkind as possible and each tool should have the longest possible rangerelatively to each piece of workthat is, the maximum length of the workupon which the machine is adapted to operate should be as great aspossible. In the above-named patented lathe such maximum length of workis determined by the reciprocatory stroke of the turret, a part only,however, of the forward stroke of reciprocation being utilized for theactual operation of the tools that is, the last portion of suchstrokethat is, each forward stroke is divided into two parts, the firstpart of which is traversed at a comparatively high speed and the last oroperative part of which is traversed at a comparatively slow speed,these different speeds in such forward movement being obtainedautomatically by changing the driving mechanism from direct todifl'erentially operating. The sphere of active operation of theturretthat is,the length of that part of the advance stroke traversed ata low speed in said machine is capable of alteration as required by onemeans only, and that by laboriously removing and accurately changing-theposition of a pin or knock-off operating a clutch for changing thedriving gear from a direct to a differential transmission. In myimproved lathe, however, a change of field may be obtained withoutremoval or change of position of any of the cams or similar parts. Insuch improved construction I provide upon the main bed or frame A asecondary frame A,

which is slidably mounted upon suitable slideways a and fixedly securedby means of a clamping-bolt and nut a Fig. II. A hanger a is securelybolted upon the under surface 'of the frame A and is provided with athreaded bore adapted to receive the threaded end of a shaft a, having abearing in the main frame A, as shown in said Fig. 1, whereby byattaching a crank a to said shaft and loosening the clamp-bolt and nutthe frame A may be moved back and forth longitudinally of the I ableset-screws b are provided for fixing the worm wheel to prevent suchlongitudinal movement. Said wheelis driven by means of a worm mountedupon a driving-shaft C, located transversely of spindle B, in a bearingD, which is mounted upon a slideway a Fig. I, so as to permit ofrelative movement of such bearing and frame longitudinally of thelatter. This bearing D is provided with a downwardly-projecting hangerd, which is provided with two cylindrical holes d, each of which isengaged by one of two eccentric rotatable'rods having bearings in theframe A.

ously mentioned requirements, set screws .6 and clamping-rods d areturned to loosen the Worm-wheel B and bearing D, respectively.Screw-shaft o is turned and frame A, carryin g the turret andturret-shaft, thereby moved into the position required to give theturret the desired field of operation. During this movement wheel B andbearing D remain stationary relatively to the main frame A. The requiredposition having been so imparted to the frame A, the set-screws & androds d are then turned so as to secure wheel B and bearing D.

The varying character of the articles produced on a lathe of thischaracter frequently necessitates the operation of a less number oftools than the maximum number for which provision is made in the turret.In the patented lathe previously referred to the turret wasreciprocated'toward and from the field of operation of the tools andintermittently rotated a number of times in each complete revolution ofthe turret equal to the total number of tools for which provision wasmade in the turret. The mechanism for accomplishing such reciprocationand rotation I- shall now briefly describe in order that the applicationof my invention may be more readily understood.

The turret-spindle B is hollow and through it extends and is rotatablymounted a rod B and upon the end of said spindle is secured a gear-wheelB*. This gear-wheel B meshes with a long pinion B which is engaged by agear E, secured to the cam-drum E. This drum is slidably mounted uponthe rod B and connected with the turret B in a manner such that the drumwhile rotating will transmit its longitudinal movement to the turret,but not its rotary movement, except under the conditions hereinafterdescribed. The turret B is rotatably mounted in the bearing a and isprovided with a series of longitudinal slots 6, each of which may beengaged by a depressible spring-pressed rod B normally held inengagement with one such slot. This rod is operated through a lever b bya rod 6 which is periodically actuated by a small cam e on the cam-drumE. Secured to the gear B and extending through the drum E is a rod I),whose end extends into the path of a number of studs 6, secured to theend face of the turret B, Fig. I, when the drumEis at its greatestdistance from the turret bearing-that is, as viewed in the drawings, atits extreme righthand position. ber to the tools in the turret, andhence the slots 12. The cam-drum is provided with a cam-slot e, engagedby a post F, hereinafter described, which effects the reciprocation ofthe cam-drum, and hence the turret.

The mechanism just described operates as follows: The spindle B isrotated and transmits its motion through gears B E and pinion B to thedrum E in the direction indi- These studs are equal in numcated by thearrow on the drum in Fig. I. The post F, engaging the cam-groove e,effects the reciprocation of the drum and turret, rod B and a slot 5preventing rotation of the latter. The turret is so advanced to the endof its operative stroke, whereupon, the direction of the cam-groovechanging, it and the drum are withdrawn. At the end of the return strokecam e engages rod 6 and so disengages rod B from the turret-slot b, therod 6 at the same time engaging one of the studs Z). During this periodpost F engages a straight part c of the cam-groove e, whereby rotationof the drum, which is continued, is effected without any reciprocatorymovement. Such action partially rotates the turret, such partialrotation being limited by the subsequent engagement of the post F withan inclined part of the cam-groove, whereby the forward turret-stroke iscommenced. This forward movement disengages rod 6 with the stud b andthe turret is locked rotatively by the re'e'ngagement of rod B with thenext slot 6, said rod having previously been released by thedisengagement of cam c with rod F.

By the use of my improved lathe construction means are provided foreffecting a number of reciprocatory movements of the turret equal to thenumber of turret-tools operating upon the work when the number ofoperating-tools is less than the maximum capacity of the turret. In thisconnection the cam-drum E, used in the previously-describedconstruction, is employed to effect the reciprocatory movement asbefore. This drum is provided, as described in said former con-'struction, with a cam-groove 6', provided with the straight portion 6which engages the post F, fixed relatively to the lathe-frame, and wasformerly preferably made an integral part of the latter and providedwith an antifrictionroller which directly engaged the cam-surfaces ofthe groove. stead of providing a fixed post for effecting the engagementof the said groove post F is made movable into and removable from thepath of the grooves cam-surface. To this end a vertical bore a isprovided in the secondary frame A below the cam-drum. The said post F ismounted in this bore and is urged upwardly by an arm G, which extendsthrough an aperture (0 piercing bore a from the back, and pivoted on arock-shaft g, journaled in said frame A at the rear portion of thelatter. Said arm engages the post in a shoulder f, formed on it, asshown in Fig. IV. To the lower end of the post is hung a weight f, whichtends to pull the post downwardly. A lever G is secured to said shaft,extends rearwardly, and rests upon the under surface of a cam-disk H,which is secured to a shaft H, which is rotated by suitable connections(not shown) once for each complete rotation of the turret. Said disk isprovided with a number Of removable segments it, by means of which In myimprovement inthe location of the cam-surface of this disk may bechanged or more than one such surface provided. Such surface is formedby a depression in the disks periphery, whereby the rear end of thelever G is permitted to periodically rise, thereby effecting a periodicdrop on the part of the post F. The segments are so located as to effectthe depression of the post at such time or times as mark the inceptionof the forward movement of the turret. These periods, however, arelimited only to that one or those during which it is desired that theturret should not advance, as will be readily understood.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. In an automatic lathe, the combination of the main frame, asecondary frame movable longitudinally upon the main frame, a turret andmechanism mounted upon said secondary frame for rotating andreciprocating said turret, a driving-shaft bearing slidable on saidsecondary frame, means for fixing the latter upon said main frame, meansfor fixing said bearing relatively to said secondary frame, adriving-shaft in such bearing and journaled in stationary bearings inthe-main frame, and means connecting such shaft with said mechanism,said rotating mechanism including a gear adjustably slidable on theturret-shaft.

2. In an automatic lathe, the combination of a main frame, a secondaryframe movable upon such main frame, a turret-spindle upon such secondaryframe, a movable bearing upon the latter, a driving-spindle in suchbearing and journaled in stationary bearings in the main frame, a gearadjustably secured upon such turret-shaft, and a worm upon suchdriving-shaft engaging such turret-shaft gear.

3. In an automatic lathe, the combination of the main frame, a secondaryframe movable longitudinally upon said main frame, a turretspindlejournaled in said secondary frame,

means for securing said frames relatively to each other, a driving-gearrotatively secured to but longitudinally movable upon said spindle, atransverse bearing having sliding connection with said secondary frame,a drivingspindle j ournaled in said bearing, a gear meshing with saiddriving-gear and mounted upon said spindle, and means for securing saidhearing upon said frame.

4. In an automatic lathe, the combination of a turret mounted so as tobe capable of reciprocation, a cam connected with said turret, a postfixed relatively to the direction of turret reciprocation for engagingsaid cam and means for periodically disengaging said post from said camwhereby reciprocation may be periodically prevented.

5. In an automatic lathe, the combination of a turret mounted so as tobe capable of reciprocation, a cam connected with said turret, a postfixed relatively to the direction of turret reciprocation for engagingsaid cam and mov- IIO l Ali able out of the path of the latter, meansfor able into and out of the path of the latter, an so moving said post,and a cam and driving oscillatory lever connected With said post andmeans therefor for periodically effecting such adapted to move it out ofthe cam-path, and movement of the post, whereby reciprocation a cam anddriving means therefor, adapted to 5 of the turret may be periodicallyprevented. periodically engage and actuate said lever. 5 6. In anautomatic lathe, the combination of Signed by me this 12th day ofAugust, 1902.

a turret mounted so as to be capable of recip- JOHN P. BROPHY. vrocation, a cam connected With said turret, a Attest: post fixedrelatively to the direction of turret GEO. W. SAYWELL,

IO reciprocation for engaging said cam and mov- A. E.- MERKEL.

